2015-16 Faith in Place Winter Farmers Market Vendor Bios Armstrong Farms Richton Park, IL

Jim Armstrong Armstrong Farms is a small local farm in Richton Park. The foods which they grow are organically grown without chemicals and pesticides. They promise that they produce the highest quality, freshest, and tastiest foods our earth has to offer.

Arnold Farm Elizabeth, IL

Tom Arnold Tom and Jessica of Arnold's Farm raise beef, sheep, pork, pastured chicken and turkey. They are the fourth and fifth generation of Arnolds to farm this land and take great pride in caring for it. They strive to farm in harmony with the natural environment and to use systems that need few commercial inputs, such as rotational grazing for the livestock and crop rotations for the fields.

The Aspiring Kitchen Algonquin, IL

Bob DePalma Bob and The Aspiring Kitchen bring their quality, local food to farmers markets around Mc Henry County. They are committed to providing wholesome food for those who want to return to the fundamentals of eating well and healthy living and offer sustainable meats and fish, organic grains and non-GMO foods. B True Bakery Oak Park, IL

Brady Braden

B True Bakery produces all-natural, whole grain baked goods with incomparable flavor and remarkably rich texture. Our products are naturally free of trans-fats and enriched, refined flours. B True Bakery is proud to use only locally grown and distributed all-natural ingredients. Due to the seasonality of fresh, local goods their menu is constantly changing. Cherie’s Greener World

Lukan Paulus Cherie’s Greener World is committed to a healthier environment and planet by growing organic microgreens and encouraging others to eat more locally grown food. Dennanne Farms Elgin, IL

Anne and Denny Bukala sell pure natural raw honey, soaps, candles, and other bee products. Ask Denny anything about bees and honey! The Eating Well Hillside, IL

Daniel J. Sikorski The Eating Well produces and sells a variety of products made from organic ingredients. Make a meal starting with organic soup, feast on veggie burgers and an organic side dish, and finish with an organic dessert. European Homemade Goodies Palatine, IL

Vesna Djurdjevic Vesna learned to cook and bake by hanging out in her grandmother’s kitchen. Her baked goods, sweets, and savory pastries are drawn from a pan-European variety of cuisines and cultures, a mix of East and West.

Green Earth Institute Naperville, IL

Steve Tiwald The Green Earth Institute is a nonprofit organization established in 2002 to promote nutritional health and environmental sustainability. Using their organic farm as a demonstration and learning center, they grow healthful vegetables in an earth-friendly way and educate about nature, nutrition, and caring for the earth. On their 60-acre farm, they grow over 40 crops of nutritious, delicious organic vegetables, and sell them through their community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.

Hardin's Family Farm Eau Claire, MI

Jim Hardin Jim and Becky Hardin have been farming since 1991; Becky’s grandfather began as a dairy farmer and eventually switched to growing fruit. Hardin’s today specializes in fruit, offering apples and cider, dried and frozen blueberries, and dried cherries. Hasselmann Family Farm Marengo, IL

Scott Hasselmann

Hasselmann Family Farm raises their cattle on pasture in the fresh air and sunshine, and they receive no drugs or growth hormones. In addition to beef, they raise pigs, chickens, and lamb. Hasselmann Farm is at the Palatine Farmers Market, and they now deliver monthly to Chicago, Oak Park, Evanston, Highland Park, Arlington Heights, and NW suburbs. Herbally Yours Willow Springs, IL

Jim Vitalo Since 1989, Herbally Yours Jim and Kathy Vitalo have brewed the finest varieties of herb-infused vinegars. All vinegars are aged to perfection and ready to add the flavor boost your food has been waiting for. All Herbally Yours products are created without pesticides and chemicals. NO preservatives, NO artificial colors and NO salt are added. Herbally Yours was highlighted in The Michelin Guide Chicago Restaurants 2013.

Joe’s Blues Bangor, MI

Frank Corrado Joe’s blues—old-fashioned Jersey high bush blueberries—grow happily on Moss Funnel Farm, by Joe and Frank Corrado, located in Michigan’s celebrated fruit belt. Owner Joe Corrado—with help from his father, Frank—also sells them frozen, along with blue potatoes, jams, jellies, and pickles. Little Bison Co. Salem, WI

Ron Lester established his first herd of bison in 1973, and today his grass-fed, hormone-free bison roam on more than 160 acres of Wisconsin pasture land. Besides meat, bison yield wool and ingredients for body care products. Little Bison Co. also sells eggs, hand-rolled butter, elk, and pheasant.

Maggie’s Munchies Park Ridge, IL

Barbara Rozny Barbara Rozny, who also helps out with Little Bison Co., is the owner of Maggie’s Munchies. Every good dog—and that’s every single dog on the planet—deserves a good treat. Maggie’s Munchies are hand-crafted from all-natural, preservative-free ingredients. Maggie’s also sells chemical-free dog chews made from bison, an alternative to products that may contain ingredients dogs can be sensitive to. All chews are locally sourced. Monika’s Organic Bakery Sycamore, IL

Monika Merryman Monika provides high quality, health-giving foods at a reasonable cost while supporting local communities and efforts to protect the environment. She “uses

ingredients so healthy, even Mother-nature would approve!” Staying true to her German roots, all artisan baked goods are handmade with nothing but the best, highest quality ingredients, including organic and non-GMO—and local whenever possible. Presto Pesto Bolingbrook, IL

Bob Garbowicz Presto Pesto was incorporated in November 2010. Their mission is to mass produce our high quality pesto products while maintaining quality in order to share these pestos around the world. They offer the “World's Finest Pesto,” salsa, garlic dill-icious pickles, made from scratch soups, and our soon to be famous pesto pizzas made with our own special recipe pizza dough crust. Bon Appetit!

Reader’s Apiaries Streamwood, IL

Jeffery E. Reader Reader’s Apiaries produces and sells all forms of honey, including liquid, spun, flavored, comb, and chunk honey. Reader’s busy bees produce not only honey, but other substances such as beeswax, made into candles, ornaments, and lip balm, and propolis—“bee glue”—which has medical uses. River Valley Ranch Burlington, WI

In 1976 Eric Rose began River Valley Ranch mushroom farm. The oldest and

largest mushroom farm in the Midwest, the farm spans 37 acres and uses

sustainable practices to grow five varieties of mushrooms year-round and

seasonal heirloom vegetables for the farm store, artisan kitchen and local

farmers' markets. The commercial kitchen was established in 1997, producing

artisan-quality sauces, dips, salsas and pickled vegetables, using Eric’s own

unique pickling process that ensures the best flavor and texture for each and

every mushroom in the jar. Find River Valley Ranch products at The Urban

Canopy table.

Saint Roger Abbey Patisserie Chicago, IL

The Sisters of Fraternité Notre Dame, through their patisserie, bake beautiful tarts, cakes, breads, and croissants, which they sell online, out of shops in Algonquin and Elmhurst, and at several farmers markets and French Markets in the Chicago area. Proceeds from patisserie sales support various charitable works including the daily soup kitchen provided at the Motherhouse in the Austin neighborhood.

SenTEAmental Moods Chicago, IL

Lori Watts-Branch Lori founded SenTEAmental Moods Specialty Teas to provide a simple way for people to indulge in the pleasure of tea while enhancing their well-being. She offers an excellent variety of original blends made with teas, herbs, and dried fruits ready to brew. Her products come from suppliers with excellent track records of fair treatment for all workers. SenTEAmental Moods supports the artists of Original T-Bag Designs near Cape Town, South Africa. The artists lovingly hand-paint recycled tea bags as a vital part of family income.

Simple Life. Simple Health. Chicago, IL

Renee Raville Renee is certified in bodywork, herbalism, aromatherapy, and Reiki, has a master’s degree in holistic psychology and is currently completing a second one in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The products offered by Simple Life. Simple Health. provide natural solutions from the inside out, because treating symptoms is simply not enough. A nurturing environment facilitates treating the whole person while putting simple back into the science of health.

Spark of the Heart Chicago, IL

Cynthia Zeki, Ph.D., and Thomas Frierson Spark of the Heart’s motto is “Tastes Good, Good for You, and Helps the Greater Good.” Their bean soups, salads, and sides are nutritionally-dense, naturally vegan and gluten-free, have no artificial ingredients or preservatives, and are complete and easy to prepare. Their products are packaged with pride by the developmentally challenged. They produce a beautifully distinctive, handcrafted product while earning money, developing fine motor skills, and building self-esteem. They also donate product to feed those in need. Tomato Mountain Farm Brooklyn, WI

Chris Covelli and his Tomato Mountain Farm staff raise certified organic tomatoes, peppers, and herbs that it captures at peak freshness in a variety of salsas, sauces, soups—even Bloody Mary mix! You’ll find them at lots of

Chicago-area farmers markets and in some local shops, or purchase directly from the farm online. Check the website for specifics. Tree of Life Farm Cuba City, WI

Marc Millitzer Tree of Life is a certified organic farm in southwest Wisconsin owned by Marc Millitzer. The farm can produce a wide variety of fresh vegetables year-round, thanks to greenhouses and storage facilities. Tree of Life offers CSA shares in a tri-state area. The Urban Canopy Chicago, IL

Five years ago, founder Alex Poltorak began The Urban Canopy, a small urban farm on the South Side of Chicago. He and his team have since started a CSA program, a Compost Club food-scrap collection program, and offer rooftop

"Dinner Dates" catered by professional chefs as well as bringing their wheatgrass, microgreens, and produce, and granola to farmers markets, in addition to produce from River Valley Ranch, a family farm in Burlington, WI, which grows a variety of mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and other veggies, all without pesticides. Whimsical Acres & My Small Wonders Salem, WI

Gabriella Szmola

Donna Koranek Gabriella and Donna team up to bring you the finest hand-dyed wool and farm-raised alpaca yarns, felted wools and felting kits and handmade soaps and lotions. From kids’ felting kits to vibrant, multi-colored yarns, My Small Wonders alpacas are farm raised, and the yarn hand-spun. Whimsical Acres makes their soap from milk from their own goats created with special scents and created in fun shapes.

Willow Ridge Organic Farm Wauzeka, WI

Renee Randall Willow Ridge Organic Farm is owned by Renee Randall and was certified organic in 1974. She has been farming organically for 41 years. Her children helped do the farm work, and now visiting grandchildren ride the transplanter, dig fingerling potatoes and eat cherry tomatoes off the vine. Willow Ridge offers CSA shares and also sells its products at farmers markets.

Yoberri Gourmet Chicago, IL

Kim Smith Yoberri Gourmet serves up handcrafted ice cream and frozen yogurt as well as handcrafted seasonal sauces. Yoberri’s wicked good bourbon vanilla root beer float was picked by Chicago magazine as an inspired choice to eat at last year’s Lollapalooza music festival.

These vendors participated in our Winter Farmers Market on Saturday, November 21 as part of the Geneva Green Market at First Congregational Church in Geneva: Alice’s Corner Bolivian Cuisine Aurora, IL

Alicia Butron’s Alice's Corner offers delicious Bolivian dishes and excellent service and customer satisfaction. Her unique South American menu is prepared with love and care. Burgin Farms Maple Park, IL

(Photo: Burgin Farms) Bob and Marcia Burgin raise and sell chicken, beef, pork, and lamb, as well as chicken and duck eggs, which are all humanely raised, fed, and processed. They are proud to say their produce is “Local, Wholesome, Healthy, Natural, Farm Fresh!”

Fox Flower Farm Elgin, IL

Jackie Nord Jodie along with her daughter, Jackie, grow flowers using only natural and sustainable methods. They provide bulb flowers and make lovely fresh-cut bouquets and holiday wreaths to sell at local farmers markets and for special occasions. Fox Prairie Farm Hampshire, IL

Brian Sebastian Brian Sebastian lives his passion by raising Boer goats on his farm and selling their meat. Boer goats originate in South Africa and are valued for their tasty meat which is low in fat and cholesterol.

Grandma’s Farm Fresh Eggs Sugar Grove, IL

(Photo: Grandma’s Farm Fresh Eggs) Paul St. John Grandma’s Farm Fresh Eggs are a small family farm owned by Paul St. John Bonnie L. Ogle that sells pasture-raised eggs, lamb, beef, and honey. Inglenook Pantry Geneva, IL

(Photo: Inglenook Pantry)

Connie Weaver’s Inglenook Pantry, Inc. has been in business for forty years, serving delicious food to the Fox Valley and neighboring communities through their restaurant, catering, and concessions. Ludwig Farmstead Creamery Fithian, IL

(Photo: Ludwig Farmstead Creamery) Becky Weaver and her family have a European-style, farmstead creamery on Feathercreek Farm, a 150-acre, fifth-generation family farm originally settled in 1866, the Ludwig family’s primary business is the certified-human care and breeding of high pedigree, purebred Holstein dairy cattle. They make Artisan Raw Milk aged and fresh cheeses. Mighty Greens Elburn, IL

Mighty Greens is a small, family farm focused on growing the highest quality produce around. Carlos Palomares and his team use no herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides and take great care to maintain the integrity of the soil, doing most of the work by hand. Crops are picked at their peak ripeness for the most flavorful, nutrient-dense vegetables possible. Perennial Pleasures Geneva, IL

Larry Geddes Perennial Pleasures raises vegetables and honey on their own farm. Sew What Plus Co-op Batavia, IL

Doreen Bartow Doreen creates handmade, fun, useful, and unusual items such as quilts, appliqué, and other fiber items.